Sleep apnea decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea, headaches, and a rating higher than 70% for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The issues have been REMANDED to allow for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that the issues of service connection for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral pes planus, must be remanded due to a lack of proper readjudication following previous remand orders. The Veteran's claims are related to his service-connected bilateral pes planus.

The Veteran was granted service connection for sleep apnea, but denied service connection for tinnitus. The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether sleep apnea was incurred in service and therefore granted it. For tinnitus, the Board found no current disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea had its onset during active duty service and is related to weight gain, which began during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a respiratory condition characterized as obstructive sleep apnea is granted.

The Veteran's appeal of his lumbosacral spine disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the severity of his condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. The Veteran's right knee disorder case is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct link between his current condition and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection based on PTSD.

The claims of service connection for a psychiatric disability, nosebleeds/sinusitis, and OSA have been reopened. The effective date is set to July 31, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic kidney dysfunction, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Veteran's chronic fatigue syndrome is granted service connection due to the Gulf War presumption. Service connection for sleep disorder and joint pain is denied as they are not related to service.

Service connection is granted for COPD, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation as secondary to COPD, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to COPD and/or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted due to his service-connected PTSD. The sleep apnea issue requires further development as the VA opinion obtained in October 2015 was inadequate.

The Board has decided that a new VA examination is needed due to the lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay contentions and medical opinions regarding his sleep apnea and PTSD. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's current sleep apnea did not start during his military service and is not related to any in-service respiratory complaints. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding chronic nose bleeds and ventral hernia. The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea, ingrown nail of the right great toe, hypertension, and allergic rhinitis.

The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the cause of his atrial fibrillation/arrhythmia, which he claims was caused by service-connected heart disease, diabetes mellitus, or sleep apnea. The TDIU claim is also being remanded due to its inextricably intertwined nature with the pulmonary fibrosis claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to inadequate testing in a previous VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to inadequate examinations and missing medical records. The issues include rating for lumbosacral strain, service connection for radiculopathy in both lower extremities, dermatitis or eczema, and hypertension.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development of evidence regarding whether the Veteran's sleep disorder, including obstructive sleep apnea, is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and sleep apnea. However, additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.